Castle of Holloko - castle - Holloko

Holloko castle was first mentioned in documents from the 13 th century under the name "Castrum Hollokew". Legend has it that Andras Kacsics, its owner kidnapped a beautiful dame, whose nurse happened to be a witch. This witch nurse allined with the devil himself to release the belle from her custody. This is the reason that by the devil's order the hellish crew took the stones from of crows.
Finally the castle was finished, perching on a huge granite mount and since 1987 together with the protected old part of the village it has been a part of the world heritage.


The inner core of the fortress is a five sided tower with thick walls surrounded by a crescent shaped great hall enclosing a small garden. It was built in the second half of the 13th century on the lower, western end of the long rocky ridge of the castle hill outside the village.
In the 15th-16th centuries it was surrounded by a double curtain wall (with a gap in between) and a horse-shoe shaped lower fortress was built on the slope of the hill around the inner core. This stronghold could be entered through two gates in the curtain walls. The Turks first seized it in 1552, and it changed hands several times. In 1683 it finally came under Christian rule. The strongholds of the Rakoczi insurrection (1703-1711) were rendered unusable and left to decay. Archaeological exploration began in the nineteen sixties. Renovation of the castle was completed in 1996.
There is an exhibition in one of the older farm-buildings showing the history of the fortress and you can see many archaeological finds.
Those who want to know more about the castle, should visit the permanent exhibition in the two rooms of the "Kubinyi Ferenc Museum" in Szécsény, presenting the story of the Holloko fortress.

The fortress itself is open from 1st March to 31st October between 10:00 and 17:30. From autumn to spring only pre-booked groups are accepted.
In the fortress you can practise archery with bow or crossbow, throw spears or axes at a target, or dress up in medieval armour.